Smithfield (population 214) is located in western Illlinois in the west-central portion of Fulton County.
The town is situated just south of Illinois Route 95 on County Highway 2 about 20 miles east of Macomb. The Toledo,
Peoria, and Western Railroad travels through the heart of Smithfield and was instumental in its early growth. A branch
of the Spoon River passes by the northwest side of town while the Baughman Creek passes by the south side.

An excellent web address for the history of Smithfield and its former high school can be viewed at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fategenealogy/fate/smithfield.htm. According to this site Smithfield is named after Doctor J.N. Smith who bought 40 acres
of land including the current site of Smithfield probably sometime in the mid-1800s. When the railroad was being laid
out one of the engineers for the project became ill and was taken in and nursed back to health by Dr. Smith.
As a reward the engineer promised to route the railroad through Dr. Smith's land. Subsequently a town
was laid out along the railroad line in 1868. The town was named Smithfield. The tonw was said to have peaked
at a population of around 400 residents before settling in to its current population.

The school system in Smithfield also has some great history. A school was established shortly after the
town was inhabited. Our guess is that Smithfield established a high school curriculum for its students in the early
1900s, possibly as late as 1920. According to the web address of http://www.greatamericantrails.com/site.asp?id=653, the Smithfield School building was built in 1917. The school functioned as a grades
1 - 11 school only. If students wished to attend a fourth year of high school they traveled to nearby Cuba to do
so. In our estimation the Smithfield High School likely closed in the 1940s.

The children of Smithfield now attend high school in Cuba, their neighbor to the east. The Smithfield School
building still has some good use for the community. The bulding served as a grade school for the Cuba district until
1990. The town assumed control of the building and now uses it as a community center and private art gallery.

Smithfield High School Quick Facts

Year opened:
early 1900s / 1920s

Year school building built: 1917

Year closed:
1940s?

Year all school functions ceased: 1990

Consolidated to:
Cuba High School

Smithfield HS team nickname: GS called the "Pirates"

Smithfield HS team colors: GS colors Blue
& White

School Fight Song:
unavailable

Smithfield "Red Brick" High School

Gymnasium on Left

Athletics

Smithfield High School was small but was said to have some very competitive athletic teams. The website listed
in the "History" section of this page states this about the Smithfield HS athletic program:

"They are (were) trained in athletic sports and their basketball teams are usually outstanding."

We know that the Smithfield HS boys competed in basketball. It is probable that baseball and track were also offered.
Team nickname, colors, fight song, team records, and coach's names are all being sought as well.

MEMORIES

From Denny Turner:

"I went to Smithfield Grade School, grades 1 thru 8, from 1953 to 1961. We were known as the Smithfield Pirates.
Our uniform colors were blue and white. We went to the state sweet/sixteen basketball tournament twice, in my 6th and
8th grade years. I got to play in these games. It was a great time for all of us at our little school."

If You Would Like To Share More Information...

...about the many accomplishments of Snithfield High School please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . We are especially seeking more information to share regarding this once thriving school. You can write to us
via real mail at: